Basford United aiming for FA Trophy progress at Peterborough Sports

They make the journey east in fine form and take on the Southern Premier Division (Central) side having seen off Rushall Olympic and Felixstowe and Walton United in the previous rounds but will be without any away support due to newly announced tier status in and around Cambridgeshire.

Despite the curtailment of Northern Premier League fixtures in early December after a vote to postpone matches was made, Trophy ties have been allowed to go-ahead and league games will now resume from Saturday after a near seven-week hiatus, subject to the approval of participating clubs.

But whilst a pending match against table toppers Mickleover on Boxing Day now looms large, United manager Steve Chettle says their immediate focus is on their impressive cup run and a visit to Lincoln Road at the weekend having won their last eight games in all competitions.

“Our mentality toward our preparation remains the same and only ever really changes based on the opposition,” he said. “We have looked at Peterborough Sports through whatever avenue we can. We’ve had information from other players, other managers, the internet.

“The players have had their presentations this week on how they might set-up and what is expected, and our training has been tailored accordingly - we’ll be ready when Saturday comes.”

Goals from Stef Galinski and Marcus Marshall all but sealed United’s progress to this stage over Suffolk-based Felixstowe at the weekend, before Callum Chettle rounded of an impressive showing with a well-taken individual goal late on in a 3-0 win.

And following on from an equally superb strike against Olympic in the round previous – his third this season – dad, Steve, has explained the differences in his game and why the former Peterborough United midfielder is now finding more success in front of goal.

“We have changed formation a little bit and he’s playing a bit higher up the pitch,” Chettle said of Callum whom he also mentored whilst assistant manager at Nuneaton Town.

“He’s now playing in a position that he was more used to before he came to Basford, but he could always score goals. I think he took more of a defensive responsibility last season when he and Matt (Thornhill) tried to maintain that solid base whilst letting other players go forward.

“However, the shape that we play at the moment is very fluid and we have got players at the top of the pitch who can score. Callum has worked really hard at his game and he can add goals to his game and the ones he has notched so far have been very good.”

Following on from the news that league fixtures will re-commence, Basford’s game against John McGrath’s Mickleover at Greenwich Avenue still remains unconfirmed and the two clubs remain in discussion over a suitable date.

In addition to Boxing Day, the hosts have proposed Monday 28 December as an alternative date and officials at the Derbyshire club are considering all viable options before a formal announcement is made. Both dates will come with a kick-off time of 3pm.

Supporters and followers of both clubs are advised to continue monitoring respective social media accounts and websites for all the latest information in the time leading up to the game.